Trw Limited

Richard H Moyer

James M Zamel

Charles W Clendening, Jr

Robert Aprahamian

Leonard J Marabella

John A Szot

Gabriel G Lombardi

Alvin D Schnurr

Jesper Munch

Gary J Linford

Josef Shwartz

A diode array (,) which includes a diode bar (,) having a plurality of laser diodes (,) within an active region (,) so as to emit light parallel to an optical axis (,), generally parallel to the laser diodes (,). The diode bars (,) are sandwiched between a pair of spacer layers (,). Each spacer layer (,) includes two or more spacers (,). The spacers (,) in each layer (,) are configured such that gaps (,) between contiguous spacers (,) are at a non-parallel angle (&THgr;) relative to the optical axis (,) of the diode bar (,). By orienting the gaps (,) between the spacers (,) at non-parallel angle relative to the optical axis (,) of the laser diodes (,), the gaps (,) span several laser diodes (,), thus averaging any inhomogeneous effects caused by the gaps (,) resulting in a relatively more uniform output from the various laser diodes (,) forming the diode bar (,).

Diode array package with homogeneous output

A beam monitoring assembly (10) that provides near-field imaging, far-field imaging and power measurements of a laser beam (12) in real-time for alignment and performance verification purposes. The monitoring assembly (10) includes a holographic beam splitter (24) that splits the laser beam (12) from the laser resonator cavity into a series of separate split beams (28, 30, 32) having varying beam powers. One of the split beams (28) is directed to a power meter (36) to measure the power of the beam (12). One of the split beams (28) is directed to a near-field camera (42) that provides a near-field image of the beam (12). Another one of the split beams (30) is directed to a heat dump (52) that absorbs and removes the beam's energy from the assembly. Another one of the split beams (32) is directed to a far-field lens (46) that focuses the split beam (32) onto a far-field camera (50) that provides a far-field image of the beam (12). The near-field and far-field images of the beam (12) are displayed on an operator control panel in real time. Suitable computer electronics (38) and camera electronics (58) are provided to process the electrical signals from the power meter (36) and the cameras (42, 50).

Beam monitoring assembly

A laser weapon system and method are provided for detecting and engaging a large number of target munitions with a plurality of independently steered laser beams, and is particularly adapted to defend against multiple biological and chemical warfare munitions. The system includes a laser generator for generating laser energy and a segmented mirror having an array of controllable mirror segments for dividing the laser energy into a plurality of steerable laser beams. The low energy divided laser beams are directed through an amplifier to achieve high energy laser beams which are output in a fanned array within a shield zone. A detector senses the presence of munitions. An illuminator laser continually sweeps the shield zone and a receiver receives reflections from munitions which fall within the shield zone. The relative position of the detected munitions within the shield zone are compared to the position of laser beams and control signals are determined so as to steer the laser beams to engage the detected munitions within the shield zone and attempt to destroy the engaged munitions.

Tactical laser weapon system for handling munitions

Apparatus, and a corresponding method for its use, for producing a phased array of high-energy laser beams from multiple laser amplifiers. A reference beam produced by a master oscillator senses phase and piston errors in a primary mirror array, and is divided into multiple probe beams, each of which makes multiple passes of its own laser amplifier. The multiple probe beams are together focused into a single phase conjugation cell, which not only produces phase-conjugated reflected beams, to effect compensation for various phase aberrations, but also locks all of the reflected beams together in phase. An arrangement of a birefringent wedge and a quaterwave plate for each of the beams prevents the reflected beams from returning to the master oscillator and facilitates combining of the reflected beams for output as a cophasal array. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished by using the birefringent wedges to deflect each retro-reflected phase-conjugated beam onto the appropriate portion of a monolithic secondary mirror, and then to the primary mirror array.

Phased array combination of laser beams

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Rolling Hills Estates, CA, United States of America

Richard H Moyer